Full day masterclass: Supporting employees with dyslexia in the workplace

22nd October 2009, 10:00am - 4:00pm, Central London

Dyslexia affects one in ten people in the UK and is a combination of abilities and difficulties that affect the learning process in reading, writing and spelling. However, with the right support and reasonable adjustments, dyslexia need not pose a barrier to success in employment.

This event is designed to equip you with an understanding of the issues relating to dyslexia, dispelling the myths and social stigmas that are linked to this often misunderstood disability.

Common workplace scenarios will be brought to life by actors, and run by Phil Friend, EFD Associate and Chair of RADAR.  The scenarios will allow you to get a thorough understanding of the practical issues associated with dyslexia in the workplace and as a group discuss solutions to particular problems.

The workshop will make it easier for you to support employees with dyslexia - both in recruitment and when in work, focussing on reasonable adjustments in the workplace and making your internal processes barrier-free.  

We will be asking questions such as:

• Testing for dyslexia - who is responsible, when and at what stage?
• What is a dyslexia assessment, what can you be expected to get from it, who pays for it and who do we approach to get one?
• What are the signs to look for if you suspect someone might have dyslexia?
• What adjustments should we make for someone with dyslexia?
• What technical adjustments are there for someone with dyslexia?
• What working arrangements should you make in terms of written and verbal communication, time and work planning?

Why attend?

The workshop will enable delegates to:

• Understand what dyslexia is, how it affects individuals and their day to day activities.
• Know what you reasonably need to do to ensure that you do not discriminate against people with dyslexia.
• Learn from real life case studies, including personal and organisational perspectives of managing dyslexia.
• Recognise what reasonable adjustments can be made to ensure that recruitment processes are barrier free to people with dyslexia.
• Work in groups and apply best practice solutions based on real examples to your own workplace.

Who should attend?

Suitable for all line managers.  In particular those responsible for recruitment, those tasked with designing recruitment policy, HR and personnel managers, IT staff, training specialists, diversity and disability practitioners.